By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2542
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the citizenship status of certain employees of this
state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 651.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 651.011. CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR LEADERSHIP OF
ENTITIES ON HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) An employee of an entity
described by Section 421.021(a) must be a citizen of the United
States if the employee:
(1) is the executive director of the entity;
(2) is a deputy executive director of the entity;
(3) is an assistant director of the entity; or
(4) has a title that is functionally equivalent to a
title described by Subdivisions (1) through (3).
(b) The executive director of an entity described by Section
421.021(a) may extend the citizenship requirement under this
section to any other position not listed under Subsection (a) if the
position is allowed to interface with:
(1) proprietary data or information deemed critical to
the operation of the agency; or
(2) systems that can influence the functionality of
critical infrastructure.
SECTION 2. Section 651.011, Government Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to a person hired on or after the effective
date of this Act. An employee hired before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.